By David and Austin

Cited Sources

(see Home page for MLA citation generator)
Energy Statistics
Energy Videos
http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy_body.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_energy

What is nuclear power?

Nuclear power is power produced from controlled nuclear reactions.Elelctric utility heat water is used to produce steam, which is then used to generate electricity.In 2004,14% of the world's electricity came from nuclear power. In the U.S. while coal and gas electricty industry is projected to be worth $85 billion by 2013, nuclear generators are forcast to be worth $18 billion.

This picture shows how nuclear power is produced

This is a picture of a nuclear power plant.

Into Electricity!

The energy must be releasd before you can make electricity.There are two ways to do that: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms.That is how nuclear power plants make electricity. In nuclear fusion, atoms are combined to form larger atoms .That is how the sun produces energy.Fussion is still ongoing research,but it is not clear if it will be tecnology for producing electricity.

The Advanteges

The Earth has limited supplies of coal and oil. Nuclear power plants can still produce electricity after coal and oil becomes scarce. Nuclear power plants need less fuel than ones which burn fossil fuels. One ton of uranium produces more energy than is produced by several millon barrels of oil. Coal and oil burning plants pollute the air, Well-operated nuclear power plants do not release contaminants into the environment.

The Disadvantages

The nations of the world now have more than enough nuclear bombs to kill every person on the earth. Nuclear explosions produce radiation. The nuclear radiations harms the cells of the body which can make people sick or even kill them. One possible type of reactor disater is known as a meltdown. In such an accident the fission reaction goes out of control, leading to a nuclear explosion and the emission of great amounts of radiation.

This is the Mushroom cloud.This is what happens when nuclear energy gets out of control.

How it relates to our lives

Radioactivity is a part of our earth- It has existed all along. Naturally occurring radioactive materials out present in its crust, the floors and walls of our homes, schools, or offices and in the food we eat and drink. There are radioactive gasses in the air we breathe. Our own bodies - muscles, bones, and tissue - contain naturally occurring radioactive elements.
Man has always been exposed to natural radiation arising from the earth as well from outside the earth. The radiation we receive from outer space is called cosmic radiation or cosmic rays.

Energy Facts

Order from highest energy usage to least.
This is a picture of cosmic rays from outer space.If you click on the picture, it will send you to a website full of facts.

	Fraction	Decimal	Percent
United States	3,892,000,000,000 17,154,402,852,000	.2269	23%
Mexico	202,000,000,000 17,154,402,852,000	.0117	1%
Iran	149,400,000,000 17,154,402,852,000	.0087	1%
Australia	62,350,000,000 17,154,402,852,000	.0036	1%

Country	Population	Energy Use Per Person
United States	307,212,123	12670 per person
Mexico	111,211,789	1816 per person
Iran	66,429,284	2249 per person
Australia	21,262,641	2932 per person